The phone rang. The sound was shrill in the silence. He had been waiting for this. He knew who it would be.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs took another drink of whiskey and walked over to the phone. He sat down slowly and picked up the still ringing cell phone. He looked at the number it displayed, even though he already knew, could feel it in his gut. And he was right.

It was Ziva.

She had been missing, dropped off the face of the earth, for months now. He knew that her disappearance was voluntary. Tony had known this too, but he still searched for her, still scoured the globe for the woman he loved. Every time Gibbs saw him, he could easily see the desperation in his eyes.

But not the last time Gibbs had seen him. In M-TAC, the desperation had been replaced with something else. Hope and a fierce passion Gibbs hadn't seen in him since Jeanne Benoit. He knew he had lied when he said he hadn't found her.

Gibbs hesitantly pressed the talk button and lifted the phone to his ear.

"Hey, Ziver," he greeted her, his voice almost a whisper but not quite.

"Shalom, Gibbs," she said. It was a relief to him, to hear her voice again, after all that time. But her voice was shaky, shakier than he had ever heard it, and thick with suppressed tears.

Gibbs was silent. It was Ziva who had called. He had things to say to her, but now was not the time. He could sense that her heart was broken, and it would make it so much easier for her if he ceased to speak until the dam burst.

She sucked in a breath and tried to steady herself before she spoke.

"I can't come back, Gibbs."

Still, he said nothing.

"But you knew that, didn't you?"

Her question went unanswered.

"I'm so sorry, Gibbs. I did not want to leave you, and Abby, and McGee, and Tony, and everyone back home, but I have to stay here. I have to. Please say something, Gibbs." Her voice hitched and a sob came out that she couldn't hold back.

"I love him, Gibbs," she said point blank.

"I know, Ziva," he finally answered.

"Take care of him for me."

"Don't I always?"

Ziva's voice came out then in an emotional whisper, not sure if he was angry or sad, and not exactly sure if she wanted to know.

"Thank you."

"I understand, Ziver. Do what you need to do. I love you."

"I love you too, Gibbs."

Ziva, not sure how much more could handle, and Gibbs, sensing this, could feel the finality of their final words.

"Goodbye," Ziva mumbled, and with that she was gone.